After watching interest rates rise for nearly two months, homebuyers and homeowners took baby steps back into the mortgage market.

Total mortgage application volume rose 2.5 percent, seasonally adjusted, last week versus the previous week, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. Volume, however, is still nearly 11 percent lower than the same week one year ago.

Retail property operations are set to strengthen further in 2017 as net absorption outpaces development. Vacancy will fall 40 basis points to 5.2 percent at the end of 2017, the lowest level since 2000.

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Growing home sales and apartment absorption pushed home furnishings and furniture sales up 4 percent over the past year. Expanding demand for housing in 2017 will further increase growth for this sector.

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Amazon opened a prototype grocery store for testing near its headquarters. Branded Amazon Go, the concept centers around a no-hassle, no-checkout-line experience supported by a smartphone app. Opening to the public in 2017, the national rollout could include up to 2,000 locations.

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The 2016 Holiday sales forecast updated with November data shows solid growth in the 3.6 percent range increase over 2015 and also above the 7 year average of 3.4 percent growth.

The post-election bump on Wall Street has supported a rise in confidence from 87.2 in October to 93.7 for November, the third highest monthly gain since the end of the recession. Rising consumer optimism was evident in November’s 3.7 percent year-over-year growth in core retail sales, which was well above the 2.2 percent yearly average from the previous 12-month period.

Retail sales growth was supported by exceptional gains in the health and personal care category, where sales vaulted 6.2 percent over the past year. Retailer Ulta Beauty has capitalized on a growing trend of providing services as well as selling products, leading the company to undertake a dramatic expansion. Plans call for doubling the store count to 2,000 locations and hiring 2,500 workers.

The information contained herein was obtained from sources deemed reliable. Every effort was made to obtain complete and accurate information; however, no representation, warranty or guarantee to the accuracy, express or implied, is made.

Employers stared down pre-election anxiety and tensions in the Middle East to significantly expand payrolls in October. Following last month’s hiring, total employment exceeds the pre-recession peak by 1.3 million jobs. With the U.S. economy gathering momentum and the Federal Reserve recently ending its stimulus campaign, the focus will increasingly shift to the timing of the central bank’s initial hike in its short-term interest rate. Inflation pressures have been tame thus far, but should inflationary pressures rise, including wages, the Fed may begin to take action.

U.S. employers added 214,000 jobs in October, the ninth consecutive month of payroll gains to exceed 200,000 workers. Consumer-oriented sectors made significant contributions. Traffic at bars and restaurants continued to grow, and hiring at these establishments accounted for 52,000 leisure and hospitality positions in October. Retailers also geared up for the holiday shopping season, adding 27,100 jobs during the month. Th e recent drop in gas prices will potentially supplement consumer spending in the months ahead. Oil and gas companies, though, have not curtailed production despite the fall in prices. Oil and gas extraction payrolls added 2,500 workers last month, and no reduction in drilling is expected unless oil falls below $70 per barrel for an extended period.

Labor market slack is easing as employers step up hiring. The unemployment rate slipped to 5.8 percent in October, the lowest level in more than six years, and the so-called underemployment rate also receded dramatically, falling to 11.5 percent. Significant wage gains have yet to accompany the reduction in slack, though, as hourly earnings rose nominally in October and are up barely more than the pace of inflation over the past year. Further tightening in the labor market, however, could pressure wages and potentially cue the Fed to consider raising rates. Most indicators point to the second quarter 2015 for when the Fed will begin to edge rates higher.

Impact on Commercial Real Estate

More than two-thirds of individuals ages 20 to 34 rent apartments, and the employment market for this group continues to improve. Following a drop last month, the unemployment rate for 20- to 34-year-olds sits at 7.5 percent, down from more than 12 percent four years ago when the U.S. economy started adding jobs. New tenants will emerge as additional individuals enter the workforce in the months ahead, maintaining downward pressure on the vacancy rate. This year, the U.S. vacancy rate will decline 30 basis points to 4.7 percent.

The movement of goods from U.S. ports to manufacturers, retailers and distributors is supporting a significant increase in transportation and warehouse staffing. Including the addition of 13,300 positions in October, more than 100,000 workers have been hired year to date to handle the stocking and movement of goods. New space needs are also arising in warehouse and distribution properties, keeping the national industrial vacancy rate on course to fall 100 basis points this year to 7.1 percent.

The information contained herein was obtained from sources deemed reliable. Every effort was made to obtain complete and accurate information; however, no representation, warranty or guarantee to the accuracy, express or implied, is made.

By dillonkiel|November 12th, 2014|Blog|Comments Off on The Latest From Marcus & Millichap

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